3 2

ISLAMIC CAIRO
0 1000
800 n.Chr.
Nilebank 800
Nilebank today
Babylon
Acces to
the Red
Sea
Fustat
Al-Askar
Al-Qatail
Site selectet by Jawhar 969
0 1000
969 n.Chr.
Al-Qahira
Garden
Palaces
Bab al Futuh
Bab al Nasr
Bab Zuweila
Ayyubid Wall Bulaq
Citadel
Cemetery
Azbakiya
Birqat al-Fil
Al-Husayniyah
Bulaq
Citadel
Azbakiya
Birqat al-Fil
Cemetery
Cemetery
1870 n.Chr.
Bulaq
Citadel
Muhammed Ali Boulevard
Muski Street
THE FIRST MUSLIM SETTLEMENTS
This area is a site of several cites constructed by
the ancient Ecyptians and the Persian Babylonians.
The city of Fustat near the remains of he Bay-
lonian fortress was the frst Muslim settlement.
After that, settlements as Al-Askar of the Abba-
sids and later Al Qatai of Ahmed ibn Tulun were
built further north. In 969 the Shiite Fatimid
Caliphate conquered Egypt and developed a frst
plan (rectangular grid) for their city on a new site
(Al-Qahira, al Muizz).
FATIMIDS
In its early years, the Fatimid City, Al-Qahira, was
simply a royal and military refuge. Fustat
(Misr) remained a commercial metropolis.
1087 a new wall had to be built because Al-
Qahira had expanded outside of its walls. The
main street was called Bayn al-Qasrayn (today:
Al-Muiz li-Din Allah) which means between the
palaces and goes from Bab al Futuh to Bab al Zu-
weila.The structure within the walls was almost a
rectangular grid with wide streets.
AYUBBIDS (FAMILY OF SALAH AL-DIN)
As the Ayyubids came to power, Salah-al-Din,
principle ruler, built a gigantic wall encercling
Fustat and Al-Qahira and opened the former
princely city to the public who began to bild
in its spaces and gardens, changing the old func-
tion and structure of the Fatimids city. It was de-
veloped a very dense pattern of houses that built
new streets. The citadel between Al-Qahira and
Fustat became the seat of governement during the
Ayyubids reign.
MAMLUKS
During the period of the Bahri Mamluks Cai-
ro experienced a great growth. It was during al
Nasirs reign that Cairo experienced its greatest
change and the western development was encou-
raged by the construction of Khali al-Nasiri.
The Bahri Mamluks are famous for their ambi-
tious building activity of madrasas, mosques, sabil-
kuttabs etc.. Under the ruler of the Burij Mam-
luks Cairo began a remarkable recover or revival
after the plague of the Black Death and famine.
OTTOMAN
With the Ottoman Cairo becamea provincial ca-
pital.The old part of the city got less important as
the centre moved westwards to Azbakiya (espe-
cially the elite). During the rule of Muhammed
Ali and his sucessor a replanning of the streets,
new zoning plans and the restauration of mo-
numents became crucial. 1798 the French inva-
sion infuenced the structure of the city with its
military strategies. New Streets as Sharia Muski
or Mohamed Ali Boulvard were built.
PRESENT
Due to the exponential expansion of Cairo the
last few years a lot of new districts were developed
and are still growing vastly.While decentralisati-
on proceeds, the islamic part of the city is de-
terorating.The city is endeavoured to conserve
and reconstruct the medieval heritage but
ignores the ramshakled medieval residential areas
next to the monuments. Capacity overload of
trafc is a big problem. But there are also positive
developments for example the Al-Azhar park.
969-1076
Fatimids Dynasty
Al-Qahira
1174-1250
Ayyubids
Salah al-Din
1250-1382
Bahri Mamluk
Dynasty
1516-1918
Ottoman
639
Muslims Capture
Babylon
1798
Napoleon
1801
British Takeover
1863
Enlightened Rule :Ibrahim
Pasha and Muhammad Ali
1922
Egyptian Independence
2010
A.A. Mussa Wazir
1382-1517
Burji Mamluks
1979
UNESCO inscription
of islamic part
641
Foundation
of Fustat
750-1258
Abbasid Dynasty
972
Al-Azhar
1012
Al-Hakim
1175
Madrasa system of
school indtroduced
1309-40
Reign of Muhammed
ibn Qalaun, greatest
mamluk builder
1900-2010 n.Chr.
Citadel
Al-Azhar Park
Roda
7.9 Mio. Admin. City
20 Mio. Greater City
- ISLAMIC CAIRO-
DRAFT
ETH Studio Basel
5 4
E
l-
M
a
s
o
u
r
ia
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Southern Walls
(Fatimid)
Al-Azhar Street
Gawhar El-Qaaed Street
N
afak Elazhar Street
Khan el-Khalili
Al-Hakim
Mosque
Al-Azhar University
A
l-
M
u
iz
z
li-
D
e
e
n
I
lla
h
E
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G
a
is
h
Ahmed Maher
Legend
Mosques
Hotels
School (Madrasa and University)
Kuttab-Sabil
Commercial
Mainstreet of medieval
architectural treasures
Bab Al-Nasr
Bab Zuweila
Bab Al-Futuh
Northern Walls
(Fatimid)
Ayyubid Wall
Ayyubid Wall
Al-Azhar Park
E
l
-
M
a
s
o
u
r
i
a
h
Southern Walls
(Fatimid)
A
l-A
zhar Street
G
aw
har El-Q
aaed Street
N
afak E
lazhar Street
Khan el-Khalili
Al-Hakim
Mosque
Al-Azhar University
A
l
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M
u
i
z
z

l
i
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D
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e
n

I
l
l
a
h
E
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-
G
a
i
s
h
Ahm
ed M
aher
Legend
Mosques
Hotels
School (Madrasa and University)
Kuttab-Sabil
Commercial
Mainstreet of medieval
architectural treasures
Bab Al-Nasr
Bab Zuweila
Bab Al-Futuh
Northern Walls
(Fatimid)
Ayyubid Wall
Ayyubid Wall
Al-Azhar Park
map:
American Research Center of Cairo
Abb 1: Sabil Kuttab A. R. Kathkhuda
Abb 2: Qalawun Complex
Abb 3: Sultan Muayyad Mosque
Abb. 4: Babal-Futuh
Abb. 7:Al-Azhar Mosque
Abb. 6: Khan el-Khalili
Abb.5: Dead-End-Street
Abb. 8.: Al-Azhar Park
MONUMENTS
DRAFT
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7 6
Al Muizz Street
Al-Muizz Street is probably the oldest and most
stable street of Fatimid Al-Qahira. Starting from
Bab al-Futuh and ending at Bab Zuweila, it cop-
rised the main spine of the city. Its structure and
appearance changed continously. In the following,
the infuences of the empires on this street and on
the monuments are documented.
AL-HAKIM990-1013
Wide triangular space
parallel to street centerline and vertival to Qibla
human proportions in size and hight
recessed Domes
Irregular space with variable dimensions and many sides,
Entrance usually narrow
Monumental scale
Minaret has various locations
Domes recessed
AL-SalEH (AYYUBIDS)
Small rectanglar space with recessed sides
Aligned with centreline of street
human scale in size and hight
Dome sometimes protruding on the street
BAHRI MAMLUK
KANGHA OF BAYBARS
trapezium space with regular sides composing various shapes
human/monumental scale and deep proportions
minarets are usually located at the end of the space or where the space meets the street
location of minaret decided according to its position within the urban setting
domes on corners, very close to spaces
Khanga of Baybars
Abu Al-Dahb
Al-Barquqiya
very small spaces on the street, except if in a vista position
monumental scale
minarets are in variable positions
domes do not usually appear except from the axial view
AL-HAKIM990-1013
Wide triangular space
parallel to street centerline and vertival to Qibla
human proportions in size and hight
recessed Domes
Irregular space with variable dimensions and many sides,
Entrance usually narrow
Monumental scale
Minaret has various locations
Domes recessed
AL-SalEH (AYYUBIDS)
Small rectanglar space with recessed sides
Aligned with centreline of street
human scale in size and hight
Dome sometimes protruding on the street
BAHRI MAMLUK
KANGHA OF BAYBARS
trapezium space with regular sides composing various shapes
human/monumental scale and deep proportions
minarets are usually located at the end of the space or where the space meets the street
location of minaret decided according to its position within the urban setting
domes on corners, very close to spaces
Khanga of Baybars
Abu Al-Dahb
Al-Barquqiya
very small spaces on the street, except if in a vista position
monumental scale
minarets are in variable positions
domes do not usually appear except from the axial view
AL-HAKIM990-1013
Wide triangular space
parallel to street centerline and vertival to Qibla
human proportions in size and hight
recessed Domes
Irregular space with variable dimensions and many sides,
Entrance usually narrow
Monumental scale
Minaret has various locations
Domes recessed
AL-SalEH (AYYUBIDS)
Small rectanglar space with recessed sides
Aligned with centreline of street
human scale in size and hight
Dome sometimes protruding on the street
BAHRI MAMLUK
KANGHA OF BAYBARS
trapezium space with regular sides composing various shapes
human/monumental scale and deep proportions
minarets are usually located at the end of the space or where the space meets the street
location of minaret decided according to its position within the urban setting
domes on corners, very close to spaces
Khanga of Baybars
Abu Al-Dahb
Al-Barquqiya
very small spaces on the street, except if in a vista position
monumental scale
minarets are in variable positions
domes do not usually appear except from the axial view
AL-HAKIM990-1013
Wide triangular space
parallel to street centerline and vertival to Qibla
human proportions in size and hight
recessed Domes
Irregular space with variable dimensions and many sides,
Entrance usually narrow
Monumental scale
Minaret has various locations
Domes recessed
AL-SalEH (AYYUBIDS)
Small rectanglar space with recessed sides
Aligned with centreline of street
human scale in size and hight
Dome sometimes protruding on the street
BAHRI MAMLUK
KANGHA OF BAYBARS
trapezium space with regular sides composing various shapes
human/monumental scale and deep proportions
minarets are usually located at the end of the space or where the space meets the street
location of minaret decided according to its position within the urban setting
domes on corners, very close to spaces
Khanga of Baybars
Abu Al-Dahb
Al-Barquqiya
very small spaces on the street, except if in a vista position
monumental scale
minarets are in variable positions
domes do not usually appear except from the axial view
AL-HAKIM990-1013
Wide triangular space
parallel to street centerline and vertival to Qibla
human proportions in size and hight
recessed Domes
Irregular space with variable dimensions and many sides,
Entrance usually narrow
Monumental scale
Minaret has various locations
Domes recessed
AL-SalEH (AYYUBIDS)
Small rectanglar space with recessed sides
Aligned with centreline of street
human scale in size and hight
Dome sometimes protruding on the street
BAHRI MAMLUK
KANGHA OF BAYBARS
trapezium space with regular sides composing various shapes
human/monumental scale and deep proportions
minarets are usually located at the end of the space or where the space meets the street
location of minaret decided according to its position within the urban setting
domes on corners, very close to spaces
Khanga of Baybars
Abu Al-Dahb
Al-Barquqiya
very small spaces on the street, except if in a vista position
monumental scale
minarets are in variable positions
domes do not usually appear except from the axial view
Abb. 9 Sreetstructure
Structure of the Al Muizz Street: commercial
buildings approachable by primary streets, resi-
dential area accessible by the secondary dead end
streets.
FATIMIDS AYYUBID BAHRI MAMLUKS BURIJ MAMLUKS OTTOMAN
C
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y
a
lWest Palace
Old Wall and gates
Rahbat Al-Hakim
New wall of Badr
Bab Al-Futuh
Al-Hakim
Mosque
Al-Aqmar Mosque
East Palace
Dar Al-Ilm
Al-Afkhar Mosque
Bab Zuwaila
Al-Saleh Mosque
100 0
C
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C
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E
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tio
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Ruins of the Eastern
Palace used as the
Great Bimaristan
Ruins of the Western Palace
Al-Madrasa
Al-Salihiya
Al-Madrasa
Al-Siyufya
Al-Madrasa
Al-Kamiliya
100 0
R
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C
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C
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Bishtak Palace
Khanqah of
Baybars
Al-Gashankir
Al-Madrasa Al-Zahiriya
Oalawun Complex
Al-Madrasa
Al-Nasiriya
100 0 100 0
C
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C
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R
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Hamman Ienal
Al-Madrasa
Al-Barquqiya
Al-Madrasa Al-Ashrafya
Al-Ghuri Complex
Al-Muayyad Mosque
100 0
A
ll C
o
m
m
e
rc
ia
l/
R
e
sid
e
n
tia
l
Mosque of Al-Silahdar
Sabil Kuttab Katkhuda
Sabil Muhammad Ali
(Nahassiyn)
Mosque of
Sheikh Mutahar
Mosque of
Abu Dhahab
Mosque of
Al-Fakahani
Sabil Muhammad Ali
(Aquadiyn)
Wekela of
Saiyda Nafssa
Sabil Kuttab
Al-Silahdar
100 0
Spaces
Facade
Qibla direction
Abb. 11: Al-Salihiya Abb. 10: Al-Hakim Abb. 12: Khanqah of Baybars Abb. 13: Al-Madrasa Al-Barquqiya Abb. 14: Mosque of Abu Dahab
Floorplan
Wide triangular space
parallel to street centerline and vertival to Qibla
Small rectanglar space with recessed sides
Aligned with centreline of street
Irregular space with variable dimensions and many sides
Entrance usually narrow
trapezium space with regular sides composing various shapes small spaces on the street
AL MUIZZ
DRAFT
ETH Studio Basel
9 8
SOURCES IMAGE CREDITS
Books
Al-Sayyd Nezar M. , Streets of Islamic Cairo
A Confguration on urban themes and patterns, 1981
Sanders Paula , Creating medieval Cairo, Cairo : The
American University in Cairo Press, 2008
Campi Mario; Bucher Franz, Cairo / Eidgenossische
Technische Hochschule Zrich, Abteilung fr Architektur,
Zrich : Professur Mario Campi,1997
Williams Caroline, Islamic Monuments in Cairo, The
practical Guide, The American University in Cairo Press,
2004
Internet
http://archnet.org/library/images/index.jsp?collection_
id=23
http://www.planetware.com/map/cairo-map-egy-cai_
ce.htm
http://archnet.org/library/places/places.jsp?country_
code=eg
http://archnet.org/library/places/places.jsp?country_
code=eg
www.archnet.org/library/documents/
Titlepicture
http://namasteegypt.com/media-gallery/
Abb. 01
http://www.fickriver.com/photos/mitopencourse-
ware/popular-interesting/
Abb. 02
http://www.fickr.com/photos/37779490@
N06/3507587649/
Abb. 03
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Muayyad_mosque.PNG
Abb. 04
http://www.discoverislamicart.org/exhibitions/ISL/fati-
mids/exhibition.php?theme=1&page=2
Abb. 05
http://aelfwine.net/egypt/?page_id=3
Abb. 06
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/3932706
Abb. 07
http://www.geo-reisecommunity.de/bild/188815
Abb. 08
http://everydaytrash.com/2009/03/03/al-azhar-park/
Abb. 09
Panerai Phillipe, Analyse Urbaine, collection eupalinos,
2009
Abb. 10
http://www.fickriver.com/photos/mitopencourseware/
popular-interesting/
Abb. 11
http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/ayyub.htm
Abb. 12
http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/khanqahbar-
quq.htm
Abb. 13
http://www.fickr.com/photos/16102025@
N00/129525768
Abb. 14
http://www.fickr.com/groups/islam/pool-
with/3458674173
map:
American Research Center of Cairo/
DRAFT
ETH Studio Basel